Hauling and lifting machine



Nov. 12, 1968 R H WALTON 3,410,430

HAULING AND LIFTING MACHINE NOV. 12, 1968 R H, WALTON 3,410,430

HAULING AND LIFTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 12, 1968 R. H. WALTON 3,410,430

HAULING AND LIFTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent C) 3,410,430 HAULING AND LIFTING MACHNE Robert Henry Walton, Winlaton, England, assignor to Robinson Campbell (Industrial Products) Limited, North Shields, Northumberland, England, a company of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Filed Dec. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 605,428 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Dec. 28, 1965, 55,004/ 65 9 Claims. (Cl. 214-515) This invention has for an object to provide a machine primarily for handling lengthy materials which have to be hau-led in or payed out in relatively inaccessible locations. Examples of materials which the machine is adapted to handle, particularly in mines and other underground workings, are haulage cables, conveyor belts, conveyor chains and electric cables. Such materials are often required to be installed, replaced or withdrawn in very great, continuous lengths which present problems of weight and bulk in handling, particularly in confined spaces fas in mine galleries, or for example when electric c'ables are to be fed through or withdrawn from underground conduits.

The machine is preferably also adaptable for hauling tubs or bogies land may further be adapted for lifting bulky articles clear of the ground, which is advantageous in salvage, assembly or dismantling operations.

According to the invention, a hauling machine comprises a chassis frame supportable upon wheels, the wheels at one end region at least of the frame being displaceable relative to the frame, levers or links pivoted to said frame on an axis adjacent the other end of the frame, a winch frame pivotally secured to said levers and carrying a rotary shaft and driving m'eans for said shaft, ram means mounted on the chassis frame to raise the winch frame on said levers, said displaceable wheels being movable during the raising operation out of a supporting position for the chassis frame, static ground engagement means of said chassis frame thereby being brought into operation to support the frame at said one end.

Preferably, the chassis and winch frames are further interconnected by levers or links pivoted to the frames at said one end region of the chassis frame. It can be arranged that the spacing of the pivot points on the two frames is greater for s'aid further levers than for the iirst set of levers. AIf the rotary shaft is mounted adjacent the attachment points of said further levers to the winch frame, said shaft will then be at substantially the highest point of the winch frame when it is raised.

While the displaceable wheels may rem'ain attached to the frames or their linkage means throughout the operation of the machine, it is preferred to mount them on a .detachable bogey that can be secured to the machine when that is inoperative. Thus, when the winch frame is in the lowered position, the bogey can be arranged to be locked to said further levers and/or the chassis frame.

In a further preferred feature of the invention, the levers adjacent said other end of the chassis frame extend beyond their pivots to the chassis frame at their ends remote from the winch frame, said ends thereby being lowered when the winch frame is raised and being arranged to engage the ground and serve as sprags. In addition, said one end ofthe chassis frame can comprise a pair of laterally sp'aced fork arms provided with spragging feet at their free ends.

The nature of the machine according to the invention will be better understood from thc following description of embodiments, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view from the front and one side of the machine in a transportable state,

FIG. 2 is la perspective view from the front and the other side of the machine in a stabilised, operative state, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the rear of a machine including minor variations, in said stabilised, operative state.

-In these embodiments, for convenience of description, the end of the machine mounted upon a displaceable bogey will be described as the rear end, and the other end as the front end. The front part of the chassis frame 1 is rectangular, comprising two side members 2 interconnected towards its front end. by a transverse axle-mounting beam 6, at its front end by a bumper bar 7 with protruding ends `and towards its rearw-ard end by a transverse member 3 affording at its middle a bracket 4 for pivotal mounting of a hydraulic ram cylinder 5. The rear part of the chassis frame 1 consists of a pair of lateral members 8, secured `at their forward ends outside the rearward ends of the front part side members .2, and constituting a fork within which is locatable a detachable bogey 9, as will be described.

Above the axle mounting beam 6 there are pivoted to the side members 2 a pair of levers 10` with upwardly extending short link arms 11 which in their lowered position as shown in FIG. 1 are disposed at an inclination of about 60 upwardly and rearwardly. These levers have downwardly Iand forwardly extending legs 12 with feet 13 to eng-age the ground and serve as sprags for the machine when operating under load. Nearerto the junctions of the side members 2 with said lateral fork members 8, there are pivoted to said members 2 a pair of longer, dog-leg links or levers 14 each having a portion 14A extending upwardly and rearwardly from the pivot at an angle of about 30 when in the rest position, and a portion 14B extending horizontally and rearwardly over, and upwardly spaced from, said lateral fork members 8. These longer links are preferably interconnected by at least one transverse member 1S to constitute a rigid link subframe.

The bogey 9 has a rectangular frame to be embraced between said lateral fork members, comprising a pair of side members 16 spaced apart, towards their forward ends by an axle mounting beam 17, and at their rearward ends by `a bumper bar 18 with ends which protrude to protect the rear ends of the fork members 8. Secured upon the bogey frame are two upstanding transverse members, one member 19 forwardly and the other member 20 rearwardly of the axle-mounting beam 17. In the position shown in FIG. l, the ends of these members project laterally into the space between the upper sides of the lateral fork members 8, and the undersides of the overlying horizontal portions 14B of the longer links 14. The rearward member 20 has a pair of upwardly projecting pegs `21 which engage in sockets in said undersides, and the forward channel member 19 has a pair of rearwardly projecting pegs 22 which engage in socket lugs 23 secured to said undersides. Further, there is mounted on each Iof said lateral fork members 8, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, 'a horizontal sliding bolt 24 urged by a spring 25 into one of two sockets 26 in said member 19 on the bogey, each bolt having a handle 27 by which it is withdrawable and a mounting 28 with a recess in which the handle can be lodged, after turning about the bolt axis, to hold the bolt withdrawn.

In the slightly modified machine shown in FIG. 3, the bolts 24 are replaced by laterally directed plunger bolts 29, retractable in the Vertical webs of the bogey side members 16 by means of T-bars 30, and engageable in sockets 31 in the lateral fork members 8.

The bogey 9 in either embodiment evidently cannot be detached from between the fork members 8 until the bolts 24 or the plungers 29 are manually retracted.

For use in mines and other locations where rail tracks are available, axles 32, 33 as shown are supported in trunnions and furnished with flanged rail-engaging wheels 34, 35. Alternatively, for use upon roads or open ground, the chassis frame may be adapted to be towed and provided with road wheels, one pair of wheels being steerable, preferably the front pair from a towing link attached to the front member 7 of the chassis frame 1.

The upper ends of the two pairs of links 11, 14 are pivotally attached respectively to lugs 36, 37 beneath Side members 33 of a Winch frame 39 which are interconnected by transverse members 40, 41 at the front end and at the middle so as to leave a bay at the rear end to receive at least one drum. In the lowered positions of th links as shown in FIG. 1, with the horizontal portions 14B of the longer links 14 resting on the transverse beams 19, 20 carried by the bogey 9, the winch frame 39 is also horizontal. Adjacent the front end, the transverse member 40 of the winch frame carries a bracket 42 (FIG. 3) affording a pivotal attachment for the piston rod 43 of the hydraulic ram 5. Mounted above the member 4) is a transversely disposed pump 44, operable by a handle 45, whereby the ram 5 is caused to extend for raising the winch frame to the operative position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

A driving motor 46 and a speed reduction gear box 47 are mounted together on the member 41 towards thc front end of the winch frame and driving chain within a casing 49 connects the gear box output to a driving sprocket on said rotary engagement means for the shaft 50. The driving motor may as shown by an electric motor, in which case a switch gear and junction box 48 with a suitably extended power supply cable is mounted on the winch frame. Desirably, an electric motor/gearbox assembly may be of a type to provide a continuously variable speed ratio with a range of 4/1, with constant power output, s0 increasing the flexibility of the machine. Alternatively, the driving motor may be hydraulic, for use where hydraulic uid is available (as it generally is for example in coal mines) in which case a suitable control valve assembly for the winch motor is mounted on the winch frame with a socket to receive nozzles on flexible pipes for connection of said assembly with hydraulic uid supply and exhaust lines; the ram 5 may then be operable manually as aforesaid, or from said supply under the control of separate valve means.

There is mounted within the casing 49 a conventional `chain drive from a sprocket on the output shaft of the gearbox 47 to a sprocket on the outer side of a hollow hub provided at the rear end of the side member 38 of the winch frame adjacent said casing 49. Said hollow hub is supported and axially located in suitable bearings mounted in said rear end, and is provided internally with means to rotate an inserted shaft, such as splines or a transverse pin, to engage a suitably formed end of a shaft 50. The rear end of the other side member 38 presents a fork 51 to receive the other end of shaft 50, which is provided with a collar 50A, the fork having on its outer side a part-annular recess to receive such collar when the shaft is moved axially to engage its driven end within said hollow hub. A pivoted cap plate 52 is mounted on the outer lateral face of said fork for securing said collar in the recess to prevent Vaxial displacement of the shaft during operation.

A mode of operation of the machine will be described by way of example, for the withdrawal of a long haulage cable or conveyor belt from a mine gallery. The machine, with the winch frame in the lowered position, is moved to a suitable location in the gallery with a drum 56 (FIG. 3) of appropriate form to receive the cable or belt mounted on the shaft 50. The bogey bolts, 24 or 29, having been released the hydraulic ram is then extended, with the effect that the levers 10 are pivoted and their downwardly extending legs are lowered to cause their sprag feet to engage the ground. Simultaneously, the longer links 14 are raised through about 221/2 relative to the chassis frame, but as the latter is no longer supported by the bogey, the ends of the lateral fork members 8 descend until sprag feet 8A with which they are provided also engage the ground. The bogey can be freely withdrawn since the chassis frame is then firmly supported at four points directly upon the ground and is spragged against drag from the forward direction. The effect of these displacements is to locate the shaft 50 and drum 56 at a height of 2-3 feet from the ground.

The leading end of a cable or belt C to be withdrawn is then brought over the winch motor to bear on roller 53 supported by arms 54 and is secured to the drum which is rotated to reel it in. Should it be required simultaneously to replace an endless cable which is being withdrawn, the shaft 50 may carry a pair of drums, the second drum having the new cable and being freely rotatable upon the shaft, an end of said new cable ,being attached to the trailing end of the old cable so that the one is paid out as the other is withdrawn. There would not normally be space available in a mine gallery for a machine as described to carry two drums for conveyor belting, one to receive a belt as withdrawn and the other carrying a replacement belt, although this can be effected by suitable adaptation of the machine, for example, by mounting a drum of new belting so that it can be paid out beneath the winch frame as the old belting is withdrawn over the top of said frame. An alternative procedure for replacing a belt is to provide the machine with a freely rotatable drum of rope or cable `and attach this to the trailing end of the belt which is being withdrawn, so that said rope or cable is laid in readiness to haul a new belt into the conveyor frame in a second operation.

On the completion of a reeling operation as described, the machine may be prepared for removal from the gallery. To this effect the wheeled bogey is brought up and located between the lateral fork members of the chassis frame, and the hydraulic ram is contracted so that the longer pair of links descend upon the transverse beams carried by the bogey, and are firmly located thereon by the pegs and sockets hereinbefore referred to. Further contraction of the ram then lifts said lateral fork members 8 clear of the ground, and of course the spragging legs of the shorter links 10 are also disengaged from the ground so that upon engagement of the bolts on the lateral fork members with the bogey the machine is now wholly and firmly supported upon its wheels and can be towed away.

Evidently the machine as described may be adapted for handling other lengthy materials, e.g. for withdrawing electric cable from an underground conduit, or for drawing a new cable into such conduit, or for performing both operations simultaneously by attaching an end of the new cable to the trailing end of the cable that is being withdrawn.

A machine generally constructed as described may be adapted for hauling mine tubs or bogies. This is accomplished by fitting a drum filled with wire rope, the drurn having a back stop to prevent reverse rotation in the event of loss of motor power or chain breakage while hauling. The wire rope has tted to it a suitable hook or shackle `for attachment purposes. The backstop may be of ratchet or sprag-clutch type, and dis-engageable so that cable may tbe paid out. The backstop mechanism is supported on the drum spindle and restrained from turning lby a dowel pin which locates in a hole in the winch frame adjacent and forwardly of the bearing hub.

Further, by securing a transverse beam to the winch frame adjacent to the shaft 50, equipped with a suitable hook at its centre point, bulky objects up to a half ton in weight may be lifted clear of the ground by rneans of the hydraulic ram. This adaptation of the machine is useful in salvage, assembly, or dismantling work.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A hauling machine comprising in combination, a chassis frame, wheels at opposite end regions of the chassis frame to support said frame, the wheels at one of said regions being mounted on a bogey frame detachable relative to said chassis frame, levers pivoted to said chassis frame on an axis at the other end region of the chassis frame, a winch frame pivotally secured to said levers, a rotary shaft and driving means for said shaft mounted on the winch frame, ram means mounted on the chassis frame to raise the winch frame on said levers, said detachable bogey frame Abeing readily removable out of a supporting position from the chassis frame when the winch frame is raised lby the ram means, static means secured to the chassis frame at said one end engaging the ground when the bogey frame is detached from the chassis frame and engagement means for detachably securing said bogey frame to said chassis frame.

Z. A hauling machine according to claim 1 further comprising a second group of levers pivoted to the chassis and winch frames at said one end region of the chassis frame.

3. A hauling machine according to claim 2 wherein the spacing of the pivot axes on the two frames is greater for said second group of levers and wherein the rotary shaft is mounted adjacent the pivot axis of said second group to the winch frame.

4. A hauling machine according to claim 1 further comprising extensions on said levers beyond their pivots to the chassis frame and remote from the winch frame, said extensions being lowered when the winch frame is raised and terminal portions of the extensions being arranged to engage the ground and serve as sprags.

5. A hauling machine according to claim 4 further comprising a second group of levers pivoted to the chassis and winch lframes at said one end region oi the chassis frame, locking means being provided |between the bogey frame and at least one of said second group of levers for engagement when the winch frame is in a lowered position.

6. A hauling machine according to claim 5 further comprising locking means between the Ilbogey frame and the chassis frame for engagement when the winch frame is in a lowered position.

7. A hauling machine according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of laterally spaced fork arms projecting longitudinally at said one end region of the chassis frame, spragging feet being provided at the free ends of the arms.

8. A hauling machine according to claim 7 further including a second group of levers pi-voted to the chassis and winch frames at said one end region of the chassis frame, side members of said bogey frame being locatable between the fork arms and levers of said second group when the winch frame is in a lowered position.

9. A hauling machine according to claim 1 further comprising releasable mounting means receiving said rotary shaft to permit said shaft to be readily detached to receive alternative haulage drums or like haulage devices.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ALBERT I. MAKAY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HAULING MACHINE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A CHASSIS FRAME, WHEELS AT OPPOSITE END REGIONS OF THE CHASSIS FRAME TO SUPPORT SAID FRAME, THE WHEELS AT ONE OF SAID REGIONS BEING MOUNTED ON A BOGEY FRAME DETACHABLE RELATIVE TO SAID CHASSIS FRAME, LEVERS PIVOTED TO SAID CHASSIS FRAME ON AN AXIS AT THE OTHER END REGION OF THE CHASSIS FRAME, A WINCH FRAME PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID LEVERS, A ROTARY SHAFT AND DRIVING MEANS FOR SAID SHAFT MOUNTED ON THE WINCH FRAME, RAM MEANS MOUNTED ON THE CHASSIS FRAME TO RAISE THE WINCH FRAME ON SAID LEVERS, SAID DETACHABLE BOGEY FRAME BEING READILY REMOVABLE OUT OF A SUPPORTING POSITION FROM THE CHASSIS FRAME WHEN THE WINC FRAME IS RAISED BY THE RAM MEANS, STATIC MEANS SECURED TO THE CHASSIS FRAME AT SAID ONE END ENGAGING THE GROUND WHEN THE BOGEY FRAME IS DETACHED FROM THE CHASSIS FRAME AND ENGAGEMENT MEANS FOR DETACHABLY SECURING SAID BOGEY FRAME TO SAID CHASSIS FRAME. 